Milwaukee @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2017 ) L.A. Lakers 90, Milwaukee 98

The eighth-place Milwaukee Bucks strive to move closer to clinching an Eastern Conference playoff spot when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Milwaukee recorded an impressive 116-107 road victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and is five games ahead of the ninth-place Detroit Pistons with seven games remaining.

All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the host Warriors with 32 points on 14-of-18 shooting and the Bucks took a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter before prevailing. "This gives us a lot of confidence," Antetokonumpo said in a postgame television interview. "We got another game (Friday) versus the Lakers. We got to come out and play hard but (this) is a great win." The Lakers might be without rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, who is listed as questionable after Thursday's MRI exam revealed he suffered a bruised left knee during Wednesday's 103-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. "It wasn't in the spot that I previously hurt it that caused me to miss a lot of games so I wasn't too worried about it," Ball told reporters, referring to a 15-game absence that stretched from mid-January through the following month's All-Star break. "It's just kind of like a bruise. It just hurts but I should be back soon."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Spectrum Sports Net (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (40-35): Antetokounmpo tweaked the right ankle that caused him to miss a game last week during the third quarter of Thursday's game but indicated afterward that it wasn't an issue. "I feel good," Antetokounmpo said. "I just have to play through it and that's what I do." Swingman Khris Middleton scored 23 points despite briefly leaving during the first half with a hyperextended knee but he assured reporters after the contest that he would play against the Lakers.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (33-41): Guard Isaiah Thomas is done for the season and perhaps for good with the Lakers after undergoing surgery on his right hip Thursday. Thomas, who will be a unrestricted free agent following the campaign, averaged 15.6 points and five assists in 17 games after being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles coach Luke Walton appreciated his attitude. "He never complained," Walton told reporters. "Every day, I asked him how he was feeling, he said, 'I feel great, coach.' Obviously, he was in some pain and had some discomfort. I didn't know about it because he was always saying how good he felt."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Antetokounmpo recorded 33 points and 15 rebounds as the Bucks defeated the visiting Lakers 98-90 on Nov. 11.

2. Milwaukee C Thon Maker (groin) is expected to miss his third straight game.

3. Los Angeles PF Julius Randle has posted four straight double-doubles and nine in the past 11 games, while averaging 22.4 points and 10.6 rebounds during the stretch.

PREDICTION: Lakers 107, Bucks 103